Consumer confidence in Germany is beginning to feel the heat from global economic risks, a poll found on Thursday.

"Optimism among German consumers faded somewhat in March," market research company GfK said in a statement.

"It is unlikely that weak demand for German goods in a number of key countries will not have any effect on German economic growth," the statement said.

Income expectations, as well as consumers' willingness to spend have also taken a knock, even if they remain at a high level overall.

Looking to April, GfK's headline household confidence index was forecast to ease fractionally to 9.4 points from 9.5 points, the institute said.